This volume continues the series of proceedings of summer schools on theoretical physics which aim at an adequate description of the structure of condensed matter in terms of sophisticated, advanced mathematical tools. This time, the main emphasis is put on the question of whether (and when) the energy bands in solids are continuous. Profs. L Michel, J Zak and others consider the origin, existence and continuity of band structure. Also, some previously discussed problems (magnetic symmetry, flux quantization, statistics, quasicrystals, the Bethe ansatz) are pursued further, and appropriate...

This volume continues the series of proceedings of summer schools on theoretical physics related to various aspects of the structure of condensed matter, and to appropriate mathematical methods for an adequate description. Three main topics are covered: (i) symmetric and unitary groups versus electron correlations in multicentre systems; (ii) conformal symmetries, the Bethe ansatz and quantum groups; (iii) paradoxes of statistics, space-time, and time quantum mechanics. Problems considered in previous schools are merged with some new developments, like statistics with continuous Young...